Burlington County Chapter - American Red Cross - PET AID Team
The guest speaker for the January, 2003 SHARE meeting was Elaine
Sullivan, a volunteer with the Burlington County Chapter of the
American Red Cross (BCC-ARC), which actually serves the tri-county
area, including Camden and Gloucester Counties. Elaine told us about
the PET AID Team - "Preparedness & Emergency Tasking for Animals In
Disasters" - a new part of the Disaster Action Team of the BCC-ARC.
One of the greatest problems for workers in a disaster situation is
dealing with animals and their caretakers. Due to concerns about
health and safety, animals are not permitted in Red Cross shelters.
Most people who live with animals are unwilling to leave the animals
behind, or insist on returning to rescue and care for their animals
immediately after evacuation. When structures are uninhabitable,
emergency workers do not allow people to return to the area to
retrieve their animals. The resulting conflicts can cause delays,
danger and even death to all concerned.
The PET AID Team's role is: 1) To establish a formal,
comprehensive network of community partners interested in providing
for the safety and welfare of animals in the event of a local
disaster; 2) To serve as a coordinating agent and communication link
within that network.
Their vision is to: 1) Provide for the safety and welfare of
animals in the event of a disaster by integrating them into the
overall, local emergency response plan; 2) Ensure an immediate,
local, coordinated disaster response by forming a network of
community members and organizations interested in animal welfare and
bringing them together during times of emergency; 3) Ensure a
sustained, coordinated disaster response by liaisons with other
county, state, federal and private organizations (e.g. emergency
management/disaster relief, animal control, veterinary, animal
protection) that may assist with response and recovery efforts.
Their goals are to: 1) Educate the public regarding disaster
planning and response for their companion animals/pets, as well as
provide training on pet first aid; 2) Encourage and provide aid in
the development of facility disaster preparedness plans as necessary,
and assist with disaster response and recovery for the following
groups: animal shelters, boarding kennels, pet stores, veterinary
offices, boarding stables, livestock farms, wildlife refuges, zoos;
3) Provide the necessary support for those professionals who
administer medical care to animals that suffer disaster-related
injury or illness (clerical, transportation, housing, etc.).
BCC-ARC also has a Community Outreach program on Personal
Preparedness for Companion Animals. They hold First Aid/CPR classes,
for groups of at least 6 people. The class costs $35/person, and
includes a copy of Pet First Aid: Cats and Dogs. The book , a joint
effort of ARC and HSUS, is an excellent source of practical
information and is available from BCC-ARC.
First Aid is the immediate and temporary care given before
trained medical personnel are available. The course includes a video,
lecture, and even hands-on practice with a mannequin dog and cat.
Areas covered include proper and safe ways to capture an injured
animal, carrying and transporting, calling for help and CPR.
Participants are taught to recognize the signs of cardiac arrest, and
proper ways to deal with specific injuries such as choking, drowning,
excessive bleeding, shock, burns (thermal, chemical and electrical),
wounds, and trauma to muscle, bone and joints. Also included are
methods of dealing with sudden illnesses, seizures, vomiting,
diarrhea, diabetic emergencies, bloat and torsion, snake bite,
poisoning, insect bite, other animal bites, frost bite, hypo and
hyperthermia.
BCC-ARC also has Pet First Aid Kits in three sizes, priced
at $14, $20 and $30. It's a good idea to have one of these kits in
your car in case you come upon an injured animal.
One of ARC's most important projects is preparing a Computer
Database of Community Partners. The "Animal Disaster Planning Survey"
seeks to find individuals and groups who can volunteer in a wide
variety of ways. Needs include transport, care, temporary housing,
administrative support, medical/ veterinary support, supplies and
money. Animals that may need help include dogs, cats, small mammals,
birds, reptiles, amphibians, horses, large and small livestock (cows,
pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, etc.) wildlife, and any others.
Supplies needed include food, water, bleach, disinfectant, crates,
carriers, traps, nets, bedding, leashes, litter, collars, bowls,
muzzles, fencing, and more. For a copy of the survey, visit the
website at http://www.CanineWorld.com/redcrosspetsurvey.
ARC also holds canine blood drives in conjunction with the
University of PA Veterinary Hospital. Dogs must be 1-8 years old, at
least 50 lbs, willing to donate at least 3 times/year, a willing
volunteer with a pleasant temperament, up to date on vaccinations and
in general good health. Donors receive a free annual blood screening,
20 lbs. of dog food, and free blood units at the U of PA if needed.
There is a lot of printed information available for
individuals and groups.
"Pets and Disasters: Get Prepared" - leaflet from ARC and HSUS.
"Disaster Action Guidelines for Horse and Livestock Owners" - leaflet
from NJ Dept of Agriculture, PO Box 330, Trenton, NJ 08625.
"Caring for Your Pet When You Are Called to Duty" - from The Ark
Trust, PO Box 8191, Universal City, CA 91618, 818-501-2275, email
Genesis@arktrust.org.
"HSUS Disaster Planning Manual" - sections include Profile (what is
the community like?), Community Planning, Animal Facilities, and
Forms (all kinds of forms that can be duplicated).
"Emergency Management Institute: Animals in Disaster" - can be
downloaded from internet - http://www.FEMA.org or ordered from FEMA,
500 C St., SW, Washington, DC 20472, 202-566-1600.
For more info about any of the programs, or to get involved,
please contact Elaine Sullivan or Kim Kukis at American Red Cross,
Burlington County Chapter, 1632 Route 38, Mt. Holly, NJ 08060, 609-
267-9595, fax 609-267-3626, http://www.CanineWorld.com/redcross.
Posted on SHARE Yahoo group - Feb. 13, 2003